Alleged burglar is actually victim, Watertown attorney tells jury

The defense attorney for a Glen Park man on trial for allegedly burglarizing a Watertown home and threatening a woman there with a knife claims the man was a guest at the home and was the victim of the ensuing violent confrontation.

Jack C. Yates, 57, is on trial in Jefferson County Court facing charges of first- and second-degree burglary, third- and fourth-degree criminal possession of a weapon and second-degree menacing. It is alleged that on May 9, 2012, in he unlawfully entered the East Hoard Street apartment of Kimberly Sargent and threatened her with a knife.

Assistant District Attorney Patricia L. Dzuiba said in her opening statement Monday that Mr. Yates went to Ms. Sargents residence because he was upset that she had ended a three-year, on-again, off-again relationship. When it was finally really, really over, the defendant became enraged, Miss Dzuiba told jurors.

She said she intends to prove that Mr. Yates entered Ms. Sargents apartment with the intent to commit a crime and proceeded to punch, choke and stomp on her before pulling a knife and threatening her.

But Mr. Yatess attorney, Eric T. Swartz, Watertown, countered that Mr. Yates is only guilty of having a broken heart. Mr. Yates only crime was falling in love with the wrong person, he said.

He said Mr. Yates entered the house, the same place he had entered a million times, to talk to Ms. Sargent about their relationship. He said she had informed him recently she was ending the relationship because she had fallen in love with a woman who was a long-time friend of both of them. Yates. Mr. Swartz claims a fight ensued when Ms. Sargent attacked Mr. Yates.

The evidence will show that Kim Sargent actually won the fight, Mr. Swartz said in his opening statement.

He said Mr. Yates was devastated by the ending of the relationship, but the only person he threatened to harm with a knife was himself.

Testimony in the trial is set to resume this morning.

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